ECDIS e-navigation
15
charting is a key aspect of e-navigation and that valuable lessons have been learned from ECDIS in the process of making it mandatory. Those lessons have mainly been technical. The institute’s philosophy is that “training must encompass both the operation of the technology and also best-practice proce- dures”. The institute has set up an ECDIS forum to offer feedback on technical user issues and to share industry guidance. S-mode was a Nautical Institute initiative
aimed at ensuring mariners are competent and confident on equipment while not sti- fling innovation by manufacturers. Research funding is being sought to develop the tech- nical description, which will involve public consultation and simulation testing. “Once we have established what mariners want and measured the effectiveness of the possible options, our findings will be presented to the IMO,” Patraiko revealed. That presentation will include a complete package of specifica- tions, and procedures for operation, in addi- tion to training modules. Strengthening the relationship between
bridge team, pilot and shore authorities is thought to be key to e-navigation; it is accepted that any new developments, such as virtual aids to navigation, come within its re- mit. Yet, Nick Cutmore, secretary general of the International Maritime Pilots Association, finds it difficult to say how e-navigation will affect the bridge-pilot relationship in practi- cal terms. He sees enormous potential in e-navigation if it could deliver real-time chart updates directly to ECDIS as well as naviga- tional warnings. “Now you can see the notice and read the NAVTEX but if, for example, a wreck symbol actually appeared on the electronic chart that would be a real bonus,” Cutmore observed. In the short term, he sees e-navigation
as a driver for resolving the problems with ECDIS that pilots have reported to date, namely software anomalies, out-of-date soft- ware, lack of standardisation of equipment and inadequate training of bridge crew. These issues are being addressed in the run-up to mandatory ECDIS and solving them will make ECDIS more valuable. At the moment, “pilots treat ECDIS like every other piece of equipment. They consider it to be part of the overall navigation picture,” he said. He is not convinced of the usefulness of
the S-mode beyond its function to get the user ‘back to the beginning’ quickly.“It’sonly one element and won’tchange the problems with ECDIS software and knowledge on its own.” Software issues will be resolved more easily than those of training, he considers, suggest- ing the possibility of pilots and masters being trained in the same classroom.
“Valuable lessons have been learned in the process of making ECDIS mandatory,” says Patraiko Image: The Nautical Institute
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20